Fetus

{{Human growth and development}}

{{Human growth and development}}

A '''fetus''' or '''foetus''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|iː|t|ə|s}}; {{plural form}}: '''fetus''', '''foetus''', or '''fetuses''', '''foetuses''') is the unborn [[offspring]] of a [[viviparous]] [[animal]] that develops from an [[embryo]].{{Citation|last1=Ghosh|first1=Shampa|title=Fetus|date=2017|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior|pages=1–5|publisher=Springer International Publishing|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_62-1|isbn=9783319478296|last2=Raghunath|first2=Manchala|last3=Sinha|first3=Jitendra Kumar}} Following the [[embryonic development|embryonic stage]], the fetal stage of development takes place. [[Prenatal development]] is a continuum, with no clear defining feature distinguishing an embryo from a fetus. However, in general a fetus is characterized by the presence of all the major body [[organs]], though they will not yet be fully developed and functional, and some may not yet be situated in their final [[Anatomy|anatomical location]].

A '''fetus''' or '''foetus''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|iː|t|ə|s}}; {{plural form}}: '''fetus''', '''fœtus''', or '''fetuses''', '''foetuses''') is the unborn [[offspring]] of a [[viviparous]] [[animal]] that develops from an [[embryo]].{{Citation|last1=Ghosh|first1=Shampa|title=Fetus|date=2017|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior|pages=1–5|publisher=Springer International Publishing|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_62-1|isbn=9783319478296|last2=Raghunath|first2=Manchala|last3=Sinha|first3=Jitendra Kumar}} Following the [[embryonic development|embryonic stage]], the fetal stage of development takes place. [[Prenatal development]] is a continuum, with no clear defining feature distinguishing an embryo from a fetus. However, in general a fetus is characterized by the presence of all the major body [[organs]], though they will not yet be fully developed and functional, and some may not yet be situated in their final [[Anatomy|anatomical location]].

In human prenatal development, fetal development begins from the ninth week after [[Human fertilization|fertilization]] (which is the eleventh week of [[Gestational age (obstetrics)|gestational age]]) and continues until the [[childbirth|birth]] of a [[newborn]].

In human prenatal development, fetal development begins from the ninth week after [[Human fertilization|fertilization]] (which is the eleventh week of [[Gestational age (obstetrics)|gestational age]]) and continues until the [[childbirth|birth]] of a [[newborn]].